Machine for weaving wire fences



(Modm J.'L.'BROWN 81; J. BLAKE.

MAGHINB FOR WEAVING WIRE FENG ES. No. 359,592. Patented'Mar. 22, 1887.

3 MERE!!! N. PUERS. MUMWM. Wllhlnltm RC Nrrnn STATES PATENT Orrlcai MACHINE F OR WEAVING WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forniing part of Letters Patent No. 359,592, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed December 9, 1886; Serial No. $21,049. (Model) To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we, JAMES L. BROWN and Jnoon BLAKE, citizens of the United, States, residing at Bedford, in the county of Taylor and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Weaving Wire Fences; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked threon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a machine for weaving pickets in wire fences, and has for its object to provide a simple machine which can be easily manipulated, and will be effective in operation and simple in construction.

The improvement consists in thenovel features presently to be described, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section offenceandthe machine in operation; Fig. 2, a sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail views of the swinging keepers. Fig. 5 is a modified form of rod. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the swinging keeper. Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof the outer end of one of the rods.

A is the frame of the n1achine,supported by the wheels at. Between the top and bottom of the frame A ispivoted a revolving upright,

B, having cross-arms b rigidly secured thereto, each projecting piece provided near the ends with eyes 0, which are adaptedto receive the hooked ends of the rods 0, which rods have their outer ends provided with transverse openings e, for the passage of the fence-wires E. The rods pass through the holes D in the side of the frame, and have their ends f bifurcated, and have pivotally secured thereto swinging keepers D, pointed at the end to prevent interference while passing each other. The inner ends of the swinging keepers are divided or separated and embrace the outer ends of the rods, and the outer ends of the keepers are hook-shaped, as shown, to retain the wires E in the bifurcated ends of the rods, as will be readily understood.

with out catching.

d is a bar secured to thesides of the frame, having two series of notches, d d, in the upper side, the corresponding notches of each series being equally distant from a point intermediately between them, said point being opposite the axis of the upright B.

The lever E fits into the socket c, and the swinging motion is given to the upright by moving the lever back and forth.

The pickets used in the construction of thefence are conveniently placed in the picketholders K, composed of approximately U- shaped bars, as shown, placed on top of the machine, thus always being ready for use.

The operation of our machine is as follows: The machine is placed at right angles to a series of strands of wire extended between posts. The swinging keepers D are turned about their pivotal connections with the rods, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the wires are placed between the bifurcated ends of the rods 0. The keepers are then returned to their normal position, as shown by full lines in said figure, thus locking the wires in. The upright B is rocked or partially turned about its axis by the lever E, causing one series of rods to pull a set of wires to, while the other series pushes a set from, the machine, as shown in Fig. 2. A picket is then taken from the holder K and placed in position, and the operation is then reversed. The upright is firmly held by dropping the lever in one of the notches in the bar d. At first, the wire being slack,- it requires a long sweep of the rods 0, and as the picket-s are put in the sweep necessarily grows less. This is arranged by having the several eyes on the cross-arms to bring the rods nearer the aXis, and less sweep is necessary by the notched bar.

When barb-wire is used,the barbs would not pass readily through the swinging keeper D, so a keeper, D", is provided, which is secured to the end of the bars 0, and has a pair of rollers or spools journaled therein, as shown,

which will allow the barbs to pass through In the latter event the swinging keepers are removed and replaced by thekeepers D, which are secured to the ends of the rods by bolts g and g, which extend through openings h and hin the ends of the bars. The bolt 9 extends transversely across the bifurcated end of the rod, as shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described machine for the purpose described, comprising a pivoted support having arms projecting laterally therefrom in diametrically-opposite directions, and rods extending in the same direction from the arms, and having openings in their outer ends for the passage of the fence-wires, as and for the purpose described.

2. The herein-described machine for weaving pickets in wire fences, comprising the frame, the pivoted support having arms extending in diametrically-oppositc directions, the rods adjustably connected with the arms and having openings in their outer ends for the passage of the fence'wires, the notched bar, and the lever, substantially as set forth.

3. A portable machine for weaving pickets in wire fences, having a holder for pickets, composed of approximately U-shaped bars, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the frame having openings through its side, of the pivoted support, and the rods connected at their inner ends with the support on each side of its axial line, and having their outer ends passing through said openings and provided with transverse openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, with the pivoted support and the rods having their outer ends bifurcated, of the hooked swinging keepers, as and for the purpose described.

6. The herein shown and described machine for the purpose described, comprising the frame supported on wheels and having openings through one of its sides and a picketholder secured to the top, the pivoted support having arms projecting laterallyin diametrically-opposite directions and provided with a series of eyes, the rods having openings in their outer ends for the passage of the fencewires, the notched bar, and the lever, arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

J AMES L. BROWN. JACOB BLAKE. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN H. KELSO, CHARLES THOMAS. 

